Iraq's Sunni-Shiite Split Shadows Holiday

"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - As a sign of the social fragmentation in Iraq, even a simple thing like when to celebrate a major Muslim holiday can become a matter of dispute.

Sunni Arabs and Kurds as well as a Shiite faction marked the first day of Eid al-Fitr on Thursday. Shiites loyal to Iraq's most prominent cleric waited until Friday.

For those celebrating Thursday, there were many reminders of the nation's woes: tight security, checkpoints, wreckage from insurgent bombs.

"This is all very backward. Why cannot we all celebrate the Eid together?" complained Qais al-Sharaa, a Shiite who opened his barber shop Thursday for the first time since it was damaged Oct. 24 when three car bombs exploded nearby at Firdous Square."
MyWay